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TeenSpot: The first single off of your new album Something to Be, which has already had a lot of success, is called "Lonely No More." What is that about? Rob Thomas: I don’t think it’s really about much of anything. That was more one of the songs that was just about the melody and the beat, you know what I mean? The words just kind of came later. It’s not one of the songs that is really attached to me personally. TS: While writing this new album, did you have a certain group of people that would be enjoying your music in mind? RT: No, I kind of think that every time we have made a record with Matchbox we take whatever we do and we try not to do that again. It’s still all about the song, it’s still just about trying to get the best twelve songs that you have, but just doing them completely differently. It wasn’t more of an audience; I had certain musicians I wanted to work with. I wanted to take Tom Petty’s guitar player and make him play with Dr. Dre’s bass player and see what that sounds like. So, it’s more about just trying to find a different kind of a sound.  RT: I don’t know. I think it’s, you know, like I said: It’s still just about the song. I think maybe on this record there is more focus on the drums and bass where Matchbox Twenty is more of a guitar-driven record. TS: What will be next single off the new album? RT: The first song on the record, "This Is How a Heart Breaks." TS: What is your favorite song off the album? RT: There’s a song called "I Am an Illusion" that I think it kind of has everything that is on the record in that one song. TS: Actually, I was listening to that song earlier, it is really good! I like it a lot. RT: Thanks, man. Yeah, that’s Robert Randolph playing the guitar on there. TS: Who’s that? RT: Robert Randolph, do you know him? TS: No, I don’t. RT: He’s a bad ass! If you get a chance pick up his record. It’s Robert Randolph & the Family Band. He’s going out right now with Carlos on tour. Eric Clapton took him out for like his entire summer tour. He’s the guy who Eric Clapton is like, "Oh my God, this guy is the best guitar player I have ever heard!" You gotta check him out. TS: Cool, I will be sure to do that! Umm... Did any songs give you trouble while writing or recording them? RT: I think sometimes the hardest thing when you are making a record is, especially without the feedback of your four guys around you (that you always have), is knowing when something’s done. I have a tendency to take a song, and I’ll try it like a hip-hop song and then I’ll try it like a country song, and then I’ll try it as a rock song and a pop song and see what fits it the best. Then I’ll try and take like elements from each of those and put them it there... and it’s hard to know when I feel like I’m done with a song. So, that’s been my biggest thing. Then when you have twenty songs and you try and pair it down to your favorite twelve for the record, you know, that’s kind of always hard too. TS: What was your favorite part about making this album? RT: I think getting a chance after ten years of playing with the same guys, no matter how good they are... it’s great to work with other people. Some of these people like Mike Campbell, I just idolize them... they are some of my favorite song writers, guitar players... it’s just cool to be able to do that. It’s cool that I can do it at the end of all of this stuff, well not the end... where I did with all the Matchbox stuff, because I had cards to pull. I could call up people like Mike Campbell and they would come play on my record. (Laughs) TS: Of all the songs you've written, which one holds the most meaning to you and why? RT: We have a song off our second record called "If You’re Gone" that was really personal to me. It was so personal that I almost didn’t put it on a record. I didn’t really think of it as a song that people would want to hear. Because of that and because it did really well, that one kind of stays with me. It’s very rare that the singles mean a lot to you. A lot of the time the singles are the ones that you write just for fun, or just because you’re trying to write a certain kind of song. Somewhere on the album, it’s usually the slower songs that mean the most to you. So, a long like "If You’re Gone" -- the fact that it was actually a single and it did well is surprising. TS: Is it true that the record companies pick your singles? Do you have a lot of say in that? RT: No, I think because we had so much success early with the first record, I’ve been really fortunate... you know when I make a record, when Matchbox makes a record, nobody from the label hears it until we want them to hear it; until it’s done. As far as the singles go, I’ve fought and fought and fought. The first single everybody was kind of in agreement on, so that worked out great. I remember when we put out "Bent" on our second record, they wanted us to put out another single, and me and Paul were up until three in the morning, in L.A., having an argument with the people in New York until six in the morning, about, what the single was going to be. We finally won through and it went to number one and there answer was, "Well, it would have stayed at number one longer if it was the other single." TS: Do you have any plans for a tour? RT: Yeah, I just did a club tour through the States. Now for most of the summer I’m going to be touring through Europe, Japan, and Australia, and then I’m gonna be touring through the States in the fall. TS: For those who haven't seen you perform before, how would you explain the live Rob Thomas experience? RT: Well, you know, now I’ve got a really, really funky group of these New York and Philly musicians that we put together. After the club tour it’s like a machine that just works great together. It’s all about energy and live, you know, create an energy live. TS: What are some of the best and some of the worst parts about being on the road? RT: Maybe the best part is, well, anyone who has a chance to travel is going to be a better evolved person. Do you know what I mean? If you have an opportunity to travel all over the world and see the similarities and the differences and all the different cultures... it really helps you to be a better rounded person. It’s never cool to have to be away from your house for most of the year. There’s something great and safe about your home, and your bed, and your stuff. To not have that for most of the year can be kind of tiring sometimes. But I always kind of look at it like that’s the part I get paid for. The music part and getting to play music, and getting to make records, and getting to go to these great music venues to play shows... you know, all of that is a part I’d do for free. I just get paid for leaving my house all year.  RT: Exactly... well, sometimes my wife gets the permanent vacation. I have to work all day while she’s out around London and Japan... (Laughing) TS: What's it like a few minutes before going on stage? Do you do anything special to get pumped up or motivated? RT: We always try to get together as a full band and have a full band prayer and just to get the energy flowin’. That’s the part where everything feels like this great calm before the storm, you know? When you get to the shower there is always stuff going on. You’ve got sound check, meet and greet, people to meet and say "hi" to... fans are always kind of screwing around. Usually we have a room that has the instruments setup and we’re always kind of in there just jammin’ on and playing around... and then there’s like fifteen minutes right before... it’s just dead quiet. You here the people outside getting rustled in. In that way, especially in an arena tour, it’s an amazing feeling when you’re back stage and you’re looking at the trucks and this whole machine, and then all of a sudden you step through this eye of a needle and you’re in front of ten thousand people and for two hours it’s just "Ahhhhh!!!!!!" -- Hold on one second... (Rob leaves phone for a little bit...) RT: Hey, sorry about that! TS: No, that’s fine, who was that? RT: Umm, an electrician. TS: Nice. RT: They were installing lights in my home. TS: Awesome, haha, umm... What is the craziest thing that a fan has done for you? RT: There were a few girls who have my signature tattooed on their body. I think it is really kind of creepy. That’s why now I have this thing where I won’t sign people’s body parts. Because sometimes that is what happens... you sign it and then they go and tattoo that signature. It’s really creepy. I’m always like "Why would you do that? Why would you do something like that?" I appreciate it, you know, but (laughs) buy the record... it’s great! Come see a show!" TS: Do you have an MP3 player? RT: Umm, yeah I have an iPod. TS: What kinds of music would we find on it? RT: It’s pretty diverse, man. I mean, it’s everything from Miles Davis... to... Nelly. (Laughs) It’s just become my... what I travel with... all of my CDs are in there, so it’s everything from country to Beck. TS: What can we expect from you in the future? Another solo album? Are you planning on getting back with Matchbox? RT: Yeah, I mean, well, the next thing I’ll do when this runs its course is... well, it’ll be time for another Matchbox Twenty record, and we’ll go on tour. I would kind of just hope that I would be able to both. Every now in then I’ll make a solo record and we’ll make a Matchbox record... and hopefully they all can kind of coexist. TS: Anything else you'd like to say to your fans? RT: Umm..... Well, just..... hopefully we’ll see you all in the fall. TS: Alright, thanks a lot, man! Visit Rob Thomas's Official Site
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